Heat treating apparatus



June 30, 1942.

H. E. sQMEs HEAT TREATING APPARATUS orfyinal Filed `gan. 21, 1937 No R m5. m mfr/Mv d a w O H June'30, 1942- Hf E. soMEs 2,288,038

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS original Filed Jan. 21, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR HowarclESomes JE-I C1. 4r. BY l L 39 ATTORNEY June 30, 1942. H, E, SQMES 2,288,038

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 21, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 1 r f/I\\\ @000000338000000 INVENTR Howordmes.

ATTORNEY June 30, 11942. H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING 'APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 21, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 11 o 5 w g M HMI Patented June .'50,A 1942 I 2,288,038 BEAT TREATING APPARATUS Howard E. Somes, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Budd Induction Heating, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Michigan Original application January 2l, 11937, Serial No. 121,598; now Patent No. 2,208,607, dated July 23,

1940. Divided and this application July 22, 1940, Serial No. 346,812

(El. 21S-13) This application is a division ofmy application Serial No. 121,598, filed January 21, 1937, now Patent No. 2,208,607, dated July 23, 1940, for Apparatus for heat-treating gun bores.

uniformly progress the axially shifting currents which achieve the heating, and uniformly progress the quench of those heated portions from which'the current has been shifted. Preferably during the process of shifting I maintain a determinate axial spaced relation between the zone 55 and other moistures from engaging upon the traversed by the currents and the zone subjected to the following quench so that the zone of the bore which has been heated fully to quenching temperature will precede this space. From an- The title of this invention indicates the class other angle it may be said that I prefer to rnainto which it belongs. The figures of the drawings tain between the zone traversed by the progresfollowing show one embodiment of my inven sing induced current and the zone being tion. As usual it is susceptible of many others. quenched a zone which has been heated te.

Fig. r1 is a vertical side elevation of the apquenching temperature by the axial shifted cur paratus. rent but momentarily free from substantial in- Fig. 2 is a front elevation at right angles to fluence of either the shifting current or the Fig. l. quench. Preferably I begin the inducing of the Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section of the vertreating current outside of the barrel and of an tical framework of the apparatus. intensity and volume approximating that which Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower bracket arm 15 shall be generated within the barrel and similarly Fig. 5 is a plan view of the end of the supend the inducing of current of similar intensity porting arm. and volume at the opposite end of the gun, also Fig. 6 is a plan view at the top of the base outside of the barrel. The current, the inducing block supporting the work. l of which has so begun andI so ended, is pro- Fig. 7 is a side view in vertical axial section of 20 gressively shifted in `the one case into one end the switching transformer and tool carriage, on of. the barrel, and after being progressed an enlarged scale, said Yview being of that porthroughout the extent of the bore is similarly tion of the apparatus contained within the dotted shifted out of the opposite end thereof. rectangle 'l of Fig. l. The apparatus comprises means to support the Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the 2,5 gun with. free space substantially equal to itsy upper end of the machine contained Within the length disposed axially beyond each end theredotted rectangle 8 of Fig. 1. of and lfreely accessible from the end. In vthe Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged Aview of the free space at one end is a mechanism for prolower end of the machine contained within the gressing into along, back along and again out dotted rectangle 9 of Fig. 1. 3" of the bore of the gun a highfrequency induc- Fig- 10 is atransverse section of the quenching tion ywork coil of a dimension adapted' to induce mechanism feed on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. in the surface of the bore and in proper prox- Fig. l1 is a detail of the quenching spray head` imity theretojthe heating currents desired; Oc-

Fig. 12 is a longitudinall sectional view of a cupy'in'g the space at the opposite end of the gun gun treated in accordance with the invention. is `a mechanismy for introducing to the bore pro- The central object of the invention is the gressing therealong, back therealong and then achievement of an apparatus whereby the bore out again, a` quenching head through which of a gun can be heat treated by high frequency 4quenching fluid may be projected upon the heat-v induction. So far as I am aware this has never ed bore to x/be quenched. Coordinated motor been achieved prior to my invention. 40 driving devicesfor these two devices, and a lAccording to my invention there is generated spacing mechanism between the high frequency in one axial region of the bore annular heating induction Work coil and the quenching head currents in and near the surface of the bore and insure their coordinated traverse of the bore of of a determinate axial extent, progressively shift the gun from one end to -the other in proper the currents so generated axially of the bore to spaced relation. A chronometrically driven concirculate through successive axial portions oi troller insures a coordinated activity of the varithe bore, and as the currents are so shifted, ous partsof these devices in their functional requench the heat which has been generated by the lations to each other individually and collec# currents so circulated and shifted. Preferably 5 tively. A means to introduce a dry inert gas under pressure to the bore being treated and progressing it under pressure between the high 'frequency induction coil and the bore and countered to the iiow of the quenching medium prevents vaporized and sprayed quenching medium the oor.

heated surfaces of the bore and thereby attains its treatment without marring its surfaces, either through oxidation, de-carbonizing or through electrical faults brought about by the excess presence of moisture.

Referring then to the drawings, I is the gun, Il designates three vertical columns or standards of the main frame of the apparatus, and founded upon the oor I2 of the shop, or other platform upon which the equipment is to be used. 'Ihe gun points vertically upward and at its end which is at the oor I2 is seated and centered upon a flanged centering ring I3 borne upon the head of a base block I4 appropriately anchored as b y bolts I5 to the foundation of It is retained in place against axial displacement not only by the ange I6 of the plate I3. but also by an encircling clamping block I1 which is made in two halves hinged together at I9 and clamped together and about 'the gun through the swinging link'pin I9 engagfingA its opposite side in a well known manner.

The standards' of the main frame of the machine are anchored to the concrete oor or other platform I2 in any suitable manner and projecting vertically upward. They support the upper end of the gun IIJ by means of a laterally projecting arm 20, which arm is vertically addustable up and down the reduced cross section 2| of the standard II and clamped in any adjusted position by means of the bolts 22 which connect together the halves which embrace the shaft 2|. The end which engages the muzzle of the gun III is also made in two halves, as indicated at 23, the one of which is integral with the arm and the other swingable about the pivot 24 to engage and center the upper end of the gunthrough the V-shaped jaws 25 and thereafter be clamped firmly thereupon by the link pin 26 connecting together the opposite ends of the halves from the pivot 24. Betw-een the floor level I2 and this arm 20 supporting, aligning, centering and clamping the upper end of the gun ls located a transverse inter-column brace member 21 for the three columns II. Such a brace is located also at the extreme upper end, it will be seen, and as many of these inter-column' braces may be utilized at different points as it may prove expedient to use. Each of these comprises a generally triangular main body, one apex of which, 28, is made in halves and fixedly clamped about the central column |I and the two other apices of which are made in halves bridged by a common hinged bridging member 29 pivoted' by a hinge 30 to the main body 21 and coupled to the main body at theA ber 29 when the members 21 are arranged in place. The opening of the bracing members 21 through the swinging of the bridging member 29 enables the guns to be placed in the apparatus and removed therefrom without dis-assembly of the apparatus and to be placed in position laterally rather than raised or lowered vertically into position.

On the upper portion of the main frame column II are mounted upper and lower swingable bracket arms 34 and 35, at opposite ends of a spacing sleeve 36, the upper bracket arm 34 being mounted upon the reduced upper portion of the main frame column II and arranged to be clamped in position thereon against shoulder 31 by means of a clamping nut 38, while the lower bracket arm 35 is split where it survrounds the column and arranged to be clamped thereonby means of` suitable clamp bolts 39. The swinging bracket arms 34 and 35 form a support for the tool .carriage which it supports on a rotatable feed screw shaft 4I journaled at opposite ends in the upper and lower bracket arms 34v and 35 by means of suitable ball bearing journals 42 and 43 respectively, the screw shaft 4| being arranged to be rotated by vmeans of a bevel gear 44 secured at its upper end by means of a suitable key 45 and driven byv a complementary bevel gear 46 carried at the end of the shaft of the motor 41 mounted upon the top of the upper bracket arm 34.

The screw shaft 4I is in driving engagement with the tool carriage 40 through the internal threaded portion 48 of the carriage through which it passes for elevating and lowering the carriage according to the direction of rotation of the screw shaft. The bracket 49 mounted on the carriage 40 carries the heating coil supporting rod 66 and a motorcylinder 50 which movably supports the casing 5| of a switching transformer.

'The transformer casing 5| is supported for definite limited movement by the work cylinder 50 relative to the rod 66 by means of the tubular piston rod 52 carried by the piston 53 fitted in the work cylinder about the rod 66. The transformer casing comprising upper and lower portions 54-55 is provided in its lower portion with a cylindrical transformer primary element 56 comprising a cylindrical laminated core element 51 carrying nested within its inner cylindrical surface the primary transformer winding 58 transformer element 62 will remain stationary/ while the transformer casing 5| will move downwardly relative thereto. This relative movement will bring the primary `transformer element 56 and with it the primary winding 58 down over the laminated core extension 6|, the latter providing a low 4reluctance core element for the primary winding.

The hollow rod 66 is held xed inrelation to the cylinder 50 and bracket 49 at its upper end by means of the shouldered portion 61 and the nut 68, the transformer casing 5| having sliding bearing on the rod 66 through the tubular piston rod 52.

The hollow rod 66 has sliding bearing in the bushing 69 in the bracket 35 through which bushing it extends down intoand through the barrel of the gun I0 to the breech end where it carries the inductive heating coil 1|) which in its present lowermost position is situated outside the breech within a lower terminal chamber 1I in the base block I4.

Circuit connection between the winding 63 of the transformer secondary element and the heating coil is effected by means of the secondary terminals 12 and tubular conductors 18 which extend down through the hollow tube 66 to the terminals of the heating coil 19. Cooling water is circulated through the tubular conductors 13 for supply of cooling liquid to the transformer secondary coil and the heating coil 10 by means of the upper extensions of the tubes 13 which extend up through the hollow tube above the bracket 49 as indicated at 14 where they may be connected with any suitable source of supply of cooling fluid not shown.

The chamber 1| is formed with an internal diameter the same as that of the bore of the gun and is lined with a radially laminated wall 16 extending up to form a laminated lining or protecting sleeve 16 for the threaded portion of the gunbreech. The function of this laminated lining is to providel a low impedancemagneic cir` cuit for the heating coil 10 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained in connection with the description of operation.

Like the secondary transformer element 62 the `heating coil 18 is formed of a hollow conductor carried upon a cylindrical radially laminated core element 11, but with an outside diameter proportioned to pass freely through the barrel of the gun out of contact therewith and in close proximity to the surface of the bore. f

At the muzzle of the gun I0 I provide an upper terminal chamber 18 similar to the lower 1| into and through the bore of the gun to the upper or muzzle end of the gun, and to thereafter retract the quenching head back to its lowermost position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Movement .of the quenching head is properly coordinated with the movement of the heating coil 10 to follow the upward movement of the heating coll through the gun barrel in constant spaced relation to the coil as determined by spacing piston or closure element 88. In the present embodiment this coordinated movement of the quenching head is effected by means of a driving motor 9| operating through a pinion 92 and vertically sliding rack element 93 carrying bracket 94 to which the lower end of the tube 86 is fixed. The driving motor is adapted to exert sufy cient lift on the tube 86 to cause it to follow the heating head upwardly through the gun barrel and without undue upward pressure on the heating coil. A stationary brace and guide element for the rack 93 extends vertically between the floor support I2 and a lower stationary bracket support 96. The quenching fluid is supplied to the tubular rod 86 by means of a flexible hose connection 91 at the lower end of the tube. Exhaust quenching fluid is drawn off from the exhaust chamber 85 through the outlet conduit= 98 and pressure valve 99 and a trap or gas and liquid separator |00 for separating such of the inert gas as may pass downwardly into the exhaust chamber 85.

Operation of the pneumatic motor cylinder is controlled through an electro-magnetically operated control valve IUI vand piston valve |02 operable in known manner upon energization to exhaust the top Aof the cylinder 50 and admit air to the bottom thereof to raise the piston 52 to the top of the cylinder and upon deenergization to exhaust the lower end of the cylinder and admit air to the upper end to effect downward movement of the piston thus operating upon energlzation to raise the transformer shell 5| into the position shown and upon deenergization to effect lowering of the transformer shell to move the primary winding 63 out of cooperative relation with the secondary winding 64 and into co- I operative relation with the low reluctance magsure control valve 82 connected with the upper end of the terminal chamber 18 provides for the introduction of a dry inert gas under pressure from a suitable source not shown, whereby the chamber 18 and the gun barrel I0 may be maintained filled with an inert gas under pressure, the gas passing on down through the clearance'between the heating coil 10 and the bore of the -gun into the lower terminalv chamber 1| to an outlet conduit 83 which latter provides an outlet permitting complete displacement of air or other undesirable substance from the gun bore by the inert gas. v

A lower extension 84 of the bottom terminal chamber 1I extends down through the support-` ing floor |2f into communication with a quenching fluid exhaust chamber 85. Through this chamber a sliding quench-tube 86passes up into the lower extension 84 of the lower terminal where the tube carries a quenching head 81 spaced froml and substantially sealed off from the heating coil 1U by means of a piston head 88 and center projection 89 fitting into the open end of the hollow core of the heating coil 18. The tubular rod 86 enters the exhaust chamber 85 through suitable stuffing box 98 and is mounted for vertical movement to progress the quenching head 81 up through the lower terminal chamber netic circuit element 6|.

Reference may be had to my Patent 2,208,601, aforesaid, in which I have shown and described a suitable control system and chronologically driven controller for controlling the operation of the various mechanisms in desired sequence.

In operation, assuming that a gun to be operated upon is in position in the machine as shown in vthe several drawings, with the upper terminal chamber 18 in place on the muzzle of the .gun lll in sealed relation thereto, the heating coil element 1|) in the raised position and wholly within the upper terminal chamber, and the quench head 81 in the lowermost position as shown in the several views,the operator starts the machine in operation. First, the motor 41 operates to move Jthe heating coil 10 downwardly from the upper terminal chamber 18 through the bore yof the gun and into the lower terminal 1| as indicated in Figure 9 of the drawings. Immediately after the heating coil 1l) starts its downward movement, the control valve 82 is connected to a suitable supply of dry inert gas. The dry gas thus enters the upper terminal chamber 18 as the heaing coil .leaves this chamber, following the coil down and continuing to fill and maintain the bore of thegun filled undersuitl able' pressure during the downward movement of the coil and continuing after the heating coil reaches its lowermost position, the gas escaping through the clearance between the heating coil and the sides of the lower terminal chamber and out through the vent conduit 83. Any suitable means may be provided for causing the heating coil to come to rest in the lower position shown in Fig. 9 without undue strain on the mechanism, as by providing themotor 41 in the form of a constant torque motor or by providing a suitable slip clutch connecting between the motor and the drive screw 4| or by the provision of suitable resilient or elastic lost-motion means.

'I'he primary winding 56 of the switching transformer is next connected with its source of high frequency current. At substantially the same time quenching medium is supplied through hose connection 91 to the quench-head 81, and the electromagnetic valve is energized to admit air to the lower end of motor cylinder 50, raising the transformer shell and with it the primary transformer winding 56 into transformer coupling relation with the secondary Winding 62, thus energizing the heating coil 10 through the conductors 13. With the heating coil thus energized and the quench-head operating to discharge quenching medium outwardly in the space surrounding the quenching head below the heating coil, the motors 41 and 9| are operated in a direction to move both the coil 18 and the quench head 81 upwardly through the bore of the gun, the quench head trailing the coil until the coil enters and comes to rest in the upper terminal chamber 18, at which time themotors are deenergized. The motorsand 9| are so timed in operation that they move through the gun bore at the constant rate required to effect the proper heating and quenching, the quench head always abutting the lower end of the coil 18 through the piston diaphragm 88. I I

Upon entrance of the coil 18 into the chamber 1|, the supply of gas to valve 82 is cut off and the valve is operated to operate the primary winding of the transformer to uncoupled position, thus deenergizing the coil 18. After this the supply of quenching medium is cut off and the motor 9| reversed to move the quench head back to its original position.

The gun thus heat-treated is free to be removed from the machine.

A gun so treated is shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings where the heat-treated portion near and including the inner surface of the bore is indicated at |28.

During upward movement of the heating coil 10 closely followed by the quenching head 81, quenching iluid is kept out of contact with the coil or the clearance space between the coil and the bore of the gun by means of the separating piston member 88, leakage of quenching fluid beyond the piston through the slight clearance between the piston and the walls of the gun bore being prevented by the presence of the inert gas under pressure in the spaces above the quench-y heating element longitudinally of the object to ing themuzzle to insure an even treatment of the gun barrel throughout its length, it is desirable to maintain the electrical characteristics of the heating coil substantially constant during such movement and during its complete time of energization. This is to insure that the energy output of the coil will remain substantially constant throughout its passage through the gun barrel and during its energization while outside of the gun barrel in either the upper or lower terminal chambers, and it is for this purpose that the low reluctance laminated'inner wallor linings l19 and 15 are provided for the upper and lower terminal chambers 18 and 1I, respectively. Preferably such low reluctance elements are arranged to maintain the -inductive reaction of the heating coil 18 substantially constant throughout its travel from the lower terminal chamber to the upper terminal chamber, or otherwise aiect such reactance to prevent undesirable change in power factor due to removal of the coil from the surrounding low reluctance material of the gun.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention for the sake of disclosure, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedv to the specific embodiment shown and described, but contemplates all such. variants and modifications thereof as fall fairly within' the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.` 1. Apparatus for heat treating an elongated hollow cylindrical object at and near the inner surface, comprising means for holding the ,object to be treated, a transformer having relatively movable primary and secondary windings, an induction heating element electrically connected with the secondary winding for energization thereby, means for moving the heating element and the complete transformer as a unit relative to the holding means to move the heating element through the hollow objectand means for moving the primary winding into and out of transformer coupling relation with the secondary winding independently of the relative movement between the heating element and the said holding means.

2. Apparatus for heat treating elongated objects comprising a plurality of spaced columns, spaced object-supporting 'members associated with said columns for holding the objects to be treated relative to said columns, anfinduction heating element, supporting means for said heating element having a pivotal connection with one of saidcolumns, said heating element being supported by said supporting means and being mov` able relative thereto for movement relative to at least a portion of the object adapted to be heated thereby, a power means for moving said bertreated, said supporting means 'being movable about its pivotal connection with said one column to dispose said heating element out of operative alignment with respect to the object adapted to be heated.

3. Apparatus for heat treating elongated objects comprising a frame, supporting means for elongated objects to be heat treated, a heating coil having an arbor, said heating coil and arbor being movable longitudinally relative to a surface of the object to be heat treated for progressive heat treatment of such object, means on said frame for supporting and guiding said arbor during movement of said arbor and coil, a transformer carried by said arbor for movement therewith, said transformer having a 'secondary coil nected directly to said treating coil, and a primary coil adapted to be moved into and out of inductive relation with said secondary coil, means to support said primary coil slidably upon said arbor, motor means for shifting said coil support means to move said primary coil into and out of inductive relation with the secondary coil, and power means for effecting relative movement between said arbor and said frame. v

5. In an apparatus for heat treating elongated objects a stationary guide, an arbor slidable in said guide and having a heating coil on one end thereof, and a transformer secondary coil secured thereon on the other side of said guide, a housing over said secondary and slidable on said arbor, and having a primary winding therein adapted to be moved into and out of inductive relation with said secondary, a cylinder mounted upon said arbor, a piston therein slidable upon said arbor and having a piston rod projecting from one end of the cylinder and secured to said housing, a guide on the end of said arbor, and a rod extending parallel with said arbor adapted to slidingly engage said last named guide.

6. In an apparatus for heat treating elongated objects a stationary guide, an arbor slidable in said guide and having a heating coil on one end thereof, and a transformer secondary coil secured thereon on the other side of said guide, a housing over said secondary and slidable on said arbor, and having a primary winding therein adapted to be moved into and out of inductive relation with said secondary, a cylinder mounted upon said arbor, a piston therein slidable upon said arbor and having a piston rod projecting from one end of the cylinder and secured to said housing, a guide on the end of said arbor, a rod extending parallel with said arbor adapted to slidingly engage said last named guide, said guide and rod having screw threaded engagement and means for rotating the rod to effect movement of said arbor.

7. In an apparatus for heat treating objects, a frame, supporting means for the object to be heated, a heat treating coil, an arbor secured to said coil, guiding means on said frame for guiding said arbor for coaxial movement, a switching transformer coaxially mounted on said arbor for bodily movement with said arbor and havv winding being electrically connected to said coil, and means for axially moving said arbor relative to said guiding means and the object to be heated by said coil.

8. In an apparatus for heat treating a metallic object, supporting means for the object to be heat treated, a fixed guide, an arbor axially slidable in said guide, a heating coil secured to said arbor, a transformer secondary coil secured to said arbor in axially spaced relation with and electrically connected to said heating coil, a transformer primary coil, a housingl for said primary coil slidably supported on said arbor, motive means for sliding said housing on said arbor to move said primary coil into and out of transformer relation with said secondary coil, and means for axially moving said arbor relative to said guide and the object to be heat treated.

9. In a heat treating apparatus for hollow objects, a work support for holding the object to be heat treated, a reciprccable arbor of tubular construction, guiding means for guiding said arbor axially with respect to the hollow of the object to be heat treated, a heating coil attached to one` end of said arbor, said coil being hollowfor c-onducting coolant therethrough, electrical and coolant connections for said coil extending longitudinally within the hollow of said arbor, and means for moving said arbor to position said coil into inductive heating relation with the surface of the hollowof the object to be heat treated.

10. In an apparatus for heat treating elongated objects, a stationary` guide, a-n arbor axially slidable in said guide, a heating coil secured to said arbor, a switching transformer having relatively movable primary and secondary windings carried by said arbor, one of said windings being xed to said arbor and the other of said windings being slidable relative to said arbor, a support for said arbor fixed thereto. means carried by said support for sliding said other winding relative to said arbor and iirst winding, andl means for sliding s'aid arbor and support relative to said.

fixed to said arbor and the other of said windings being slidable relative to saidarbor, a support for said arbor xed thereto, means carried by said support for `sliding said other winding relative to said arbor and i'lrst winding, and means for sliding said arbor and support relative to said guide means, said sliding means comprising a screw rotatably journalled in said guide means against axial movement relative thereto and being threadably engaged with said support, together with means for rotating said screw.

HOWARD E. SOMES. 

